Container



J1me 1 I c. P. WELLMIANQ 2,003,326

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 14, 1935 7 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Wiles PZW/lmau/ M/z/M ATTORNEY June 4, 1935. c. P. WELLMAN CONT; INER Filed Jan. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 liar/es Z I Q Z IEZZau.

m M ATTORNEY c. P. WELLMAN 2,003,326 7 June 4, 1935.

CONTAINER '5 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Jan; 14, 1933 INVENTOR I 7 ll llarle's j) ill/man/ ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE loClalms.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to containers having separable body and bottom portions which may be interlocked together to form the set up container.

The container herein disclosed comprises generally a body portion formed in the shape of a tube. The body portion is telescoped into or over a bottom portion which comprises an end wall and an upstanding side wall formed from a plurality of wall segments. The wall segments may be connected together by means of bellows folds or tabs which overlap certain of the wall segments to form a wedge shaped recess. The body portion is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting tongues which are adapted to seat within the wedge shaped recesses formed on the wall segments of the bottom portion. The tongues on the body portion are resiliently expansibie so as to retain themselves within the wedge shaped recesses and in interlocking engagement with the bellows folds or tabs. When the bottom portion is teiescoped over the body portion the wedge shaped recesses provided on theside wall segments of the body portion are arranged on the inside face th'ereoi', while upwardly extending tongues provided on the body portion are arranged to flare outwardly. When the bottom portion is telescoped within the body portion, the bellows folds or flaps thereof are secured to the outside iace oi the side wall segments and the upwardly extending tongues of the body portion are positioned within the body portion and arranged to flare inwardly. The container may be polygonal in cross sectional configuration and as high as found desirable.

If desired, a cover portion of the container may be provided which is formed similar to the bottom portion. When the bottom portion or cover portion, or both, telescope within the body portion, it is preferable to provide a stop which defines the telescoped position of the bottom portion or cover portion, or both, within thebody portion. This stop may comprise a collar or ring positioned within the body portion and against which the edges of the bottom portion or cover portion may abut or strike. Or if found more desirable, the bottom portion or cover portion may be provided with an overhanging lip or ledge adapted to seat against the edge 01 the tubular body portion when the portions are in telescoped position. If the height of the tubular portion is substantially equal to the sum of the heights of the side wall segments of the bottom, and cover portions, no stop device is needed since the edges of the wall segments will abut one another and thus define their telescoped position. p

The container herein disclosed is preferably made of paper or fiberboard, but any suitable and desirable sheet material may be used. The con- 6 tamer may be cut, scored and formed entirely on automatic machinery without hand manipulation, and for this reason can be economically manufacturedand produced. The container may also be shipped and stored in fiat knockdown condition 1 thereby effecting iurther economies in shipment and storage. It is adapted to be quickly'and readily set up by the packer or user without requiring experienced labor or special tools. The container is strong and durable, adapted to a variety of different designs and patterns and is especially valuable as a merchandising container] An object of this invention is to provide a con tamer having a collapsible body portion which may be secured and attached to a bottom portion and a cover portion by means or interlocking parts provided on these portions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container formed from a body portion and a bottom portion which may be shipped in knockdown condition as separate pieces and which can be easily and quickly assembled by the packer or user with unskilled labor and without special tools.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a container comprising separate body, bottom and cover portions, the bottom and cover portions being provided with means adapted to lock the same to the body portion and to secure these parts together in such a manner as to make it extremely diflicult to gain access to the container when locked and sealed.'

Another object of this invention is to provide a container comprising body, bottom and cover portions each formed from a single blank of sheet 40 material, the portions being provided with means adapted to interlock to hold the portions assembled together.

Still another object oi. this invention is to provide a container which may be made in a variety oi attractive designs and patterns to most effectively display the mechandise contained therein, which is economical to manufacture, which can be shipped in knockdown condition and assembled by the packer with ease and facility, and which is provided with locking means which makes it extremely difficult, it not impossible, 101'- an unauthorized person to gain access to-and pilfer the contents once the container has been locked and sealed. j

or I

Another object of this invention is to provide a container having a body portion, and a bottom portion adapted to telescope within the body portion and interlock therewith, means being provided to fix the telescoped position of the bottom portion with respect to the body portion.

Other objects of this invention will become "apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Although the novel features which are believ to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in-connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 represents a blank from which the body portion of the container may be formed;

Fig. 2 represents a blank from which the bottom of the container may be formed;

Fig. 3 represents a relatively stiff disc adapted to be inserted into the body portion to maintain the body and bottom portions locked together in set up assembly;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the body portion formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom portion formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom and body portions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 as they appear when assembled together to form a set up container, certain parts being broken away to illustrate the means used to lock the bottom portion to the body portion:

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view through the container taken on line '|l of "Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 represents a blank from which a modified body portion may be formed;

Fig. 9 represents a blank from which a bottom portion of modified construction may be formed;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a body portion formedfrom the blank shown in Fig. 8:

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a bottom portion formed from the blank shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a'fragmentary perspective view of the assembled bottom and body portions shown in Figs. 10 and 11, certain parts being broken away to illustrate the manner in which the body and bottom parts interlock together;

Fig. 13 represents a blank from which a body portion may be formed which is adapted to receive both a bottom portion and a cover portion;

Fig. 14 represents a blank from which the cover portion of a container may be formed;

Fig. 15 rql'esents a sheet of transparent material secured over an opening provided in the cover portion permitting the contents of the container to be viewed and inspected;

Fig. 16 represents a ring of sheet material used to secure the transparent sheet shown in Fig. 15 to the cover portion of the container;

Fig, 17 is a perspective view of a tubular body portion formed from the blank shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a bottom portion adapted to telescope within the lower end of the body portion;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the cover por tion formed from the parts shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, said cover part being adapted to telescope within the body portion shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the container as it appears when completely assembled;

Fig. 21 is a vertical cross sectional view through the container taken on line 2l-2| of Fig. 20;

and

Fig. 22 is a vertical cross sectional view through a container formed from the parts shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19, the body portion being represented as of considerable length with collar means provided therein and operative to fix the telescoped position of the bottom and cover portions within the body portion.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

There is shown in Fig. 1 a blank of paperboard or similar sheet material from which the body portion A of the container may be formed. The blank is divided into a plurality of side walls I by means "of vertically extending scores 2. A securing tab 3 provided along one side edge may be secured by means of staples ion or similar securing means to the opposite free edge of the blank to maintain the body portion in tubular form. The lower edge of the body portion is provided with a series of tabs 4 and i which alternate with one another and which are hinged to the side walls I along the score lines 6.

- The bottom portion .of the container is formed from a blank B shown in Fig. 2 comprising an end wall I having a plurality of side wall segments 8 which equal in number the side walls I provided on the body portion A. The side wall segments I may be connected by a series of bellows folds comprising bellows parts 8 and I hinged together along the score line ll, bellows part 0 being hinged to side wall segment 8 along the score line l2, and bellows part II being hinged to side wall segment 8 along the score line It. The side wall segments I are hinged to the end wall I along the score lines I4 and may be bent upwardly at right angles with respect thereto so as to provide a continuous side wall or side flange for the bottom portion. In assembling the bottom portion the bellows parts 9 and ID are folded in superimposed relation and are secured by means of staples IM or similar securing means to alternate side wall segments 8, as moreclearly shown in Fig. 5. When thus arranged, a series 01 wedge shaped recesses are provided on the inside face of the side flange.

when the container is to be assembled by the packer or user, the tubular portion A is expanded from its collapsed position into tubular position, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The tongues I are bent outwardly and upwardly and the tongues are bent inwardly and the body portion is then telescoped within the bottom portion B as shown in Fig. 6. when the body portion has telescoped the full distance into the bottom portion, the 'side edges 18 of the upwardly projecting tongues l are so formed as to permit the tongues I to resiliently spring into the wage shaped recesses formed between the edges ll of the bellows folds, and to interlock therewith. The

bottom portion is thus securely fixed to the body I portion presentinga fully set up container. To maintain the body and bottom portions securely locked together a disc C may be provided which is inserted into the body portion of the container so as to press and hold the lower end of the body portion in outwardly expanded position and thus maintaining the tongues I interlocked at all times with the bellows folds provided on the inside face of the side flange oi the bottom portion. The disc C rests upon the inturned tongues I and presents a smooth and finished bottom on which the contents of the container may rest.

There is shown in Fig. 10 a tubular body portion A similar to the body portion shown in Fig. 4 except that in place of the intumed tongues 5, out-turned tongues 4 only are provided on all sides of the container. A bottom portion of somewhat modified construction and formed from the blank B shown in Fig. .9 may also be provided. Blank B comprises an end wall I having a plurality of side wall segments l8 and I9 hinged thereto. Side wall segments l8 and I! are alternately arranged, the segments l8 having tabs at each end thereof and hinged thereto along the score lines 2|. Radial cuts 22 separate the tabs 20 from the side wall segments IS. The bottom portion is assembled by bending the side wall segments l8 and I! at right angles to the bottom end wall I and securing as by glue or other means the tabs 20 to the inside face of the adjacent side wall segments IS. A wedge shaped recess formed by the paired tabs 20 is presented on the inside face of each of the side wall segments It. When the body portion A is telescoped within the bottom portion B the upwardly projecting tongues 6 will spring outward- 1y so that the inclined edges l6 thereof will abut against the inclined edge of the tabs 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The body portion and bottom portion are thus held together in firm interlocked assembly. Since the tab portions are disposed on the inside face of the bottom portion, the bottom portion presents a smooth outer surface which gives the container an attractive and :finished appearance. v

If a container having a smooth outside surface free from exposed flanges is desired, such con-' tainer may be made by telescoping the bottom portion into the body portion of the container. In making such a container the bellows parts 9 and it are folded so as to position themselves on the outside face of the wall segments 8 providing a bottom portion 3, as shown more particularly in Fig. 18. The tongues 4 provided on the body portion A formed from the blank shown in-Fig. 13, are bent inwardly as shown more particularly in Fig. 21. The body portion A is then telescoped over the bottom portion 38 until. the upwardly projecting tongues d resiliently spring inwardly and seat within the wedge shaped recess formed between the edges M of the bellows folds. The contents of the container cannot force the bottom portion outwardly since such a force will more firmly interlock the tongues 4 provided on the body portion with the bellows folds provided on the bottom portion together.

A cover portion for the container may also be provided which is inserted into the other end of the tubular body portion A The cover portion D shown more particularly in Fig. 19 may be formed from the blank shown in Fig. 14, and is also assembled with the bellows folds positioned on the outside face of the wall segments d. The downwardly extending tongues t provided along the upper edge of the body portion A as shown more particularly in Figs. 13 and 1?, spring into interlocking engagement with the bellows folds provided on the side wall segments of the cover portion, and the cover portion is thus held locked to the body. To permit the contents of the container to be viewed and inspected, an opening 30 may be cut in the end wall I of the cover portion 1) and this opening covered over on the inside face thereof by a transparent sheet of material 33, as shown in Fig. 15. The transparent sheet 33 may be held in position by gluing or otherwise securing a ring 35 having a concentric opening 32 therein to the inside face of the transparent sheet a and to the end wall I.

The. container shown in Figs. 20 and 21 is provided with a body portion whose height is substantially equal to the sum of the heights-of the side wall segments comprising the bottom portion 1? and the cover portion D. when the bottom portion B and the cover portion D are telescoped within the body portion A, the edges thereof will abut, as shown more particularly in Fig. 21, thus limiting the-inward telescoped position of the bottom and cover portions. If the body portion is of considerable height so as to make it impractical to position the side wall segments of the bottom and cover portions in abutment, an internal collar E, as shown in Fig. 22, may be secured to the inside face of the body portion A. The internal collar E may be made of any convenient height so that the edges of the side wall segments of the bottom and cover portions may abut the lower and upper edges of the collar.

The containers herein disclosed are of special value in the mechandising field where it is desired to securely lock and seal the contents against dirt, dust and contamination and to prevent unauthorized pilfering of the contents. A window may be provided in the container to permit the contents to be inspected and viewed. The bot tom and cover portions are provided with side wall segments or side flanges which may be positioned on either theoutside or the inside of the tubular body portion whichever is found most desirable. The container may be made in any number of attractive designs, shapes, forms and patterns and is susceptible to a large variety;

of uses. i

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without depart ing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A knockdown container of the character described comprising telescoping tubular body and end closure portions, said end closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side walls, tab projections arranged in wedge formation fixed to certain of said side walls, and free end tongues projecting from said body adapted to interlock with said tab projections and retain said body and closure portions in assembled set up relationship. 2. A knockdown container of the character described comprising telescoping tubular body and end closure portions, said end closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side wall segments, wedge shaped connecting tabs projecting from certain of said segments overlapping and secured to adjacent segments, and free end tongues projecting from said body and adapted.

to interlock with said tabs and retain said body and closure positions in assembled set up relationship.

3. A knockdown container of the character described comprising telescoping tubular body and end closure portions, said end closure portions including an end wall and surrounding side wall segments, bellows folds positioned between and connecting said segments, said folds overlapping certain of said segments in paired arrangement, and free end tongues projecting from said body portion adapted to interlock with said paired folds and retain said body and closure portions in assembled set up relationship.

. 4. A knockdown container of the character described comprising telescoping tubular body and end closure portions, said end closure portion including an end wall andsurrounding side wall segments, tabsentending from certain of said side wall segments and fixed to adjacent side wall segments, said tabs being arranged in pairs to provide wedge shaped projections, and free end tongues projecting from said body portion adapt= ed to interlock with said paired tabs and retain said body and closure portions in assembled set up relationship.

A 5. A knockdown container of the character described comprising telescoped tubular body and end closure portions, said end closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side wall segments, bellows folds connecting said segments and arranged in pairs to provide wedge shaped projections on certain of said segments, and free end tongues projecting from said body portion and adapted to interlock with said paired folds and retain said body and closure portions in assembled set up relationship.

6. A container of the character described comprising telescoped tubular body and end closure portions, said end closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side wall segments, bellows folds connecting said segments and over-v lapping the inside faoe of certain of said segments, and means for locking said body and closure portions together in fixed set up assembly, said means comprising free end tongues projecting from said body portion and adapted to interlock with said bellows folds and retain said body and closure portions in assembled set up relationship.

7. A container of the character described comprising a tubular body portion, an end closure portion telescoped over one end of said body portiomsaid end closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side wall segments, bellows folds connecting said segments and overlapping the inside face of certain of said S ments, and means including resilient tongues projecting from said body portion and engaging said folds to lock said body and closure portions together in fixed set up assembly.

3. A container of the character described comprising a telescoping tubular body and end closure portions, said and closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side wall segments, wedge shaped tab projections fixed to certain of said side walls, free locking tongues extending from the telescoped end of said body portion adapted to resiliently interlock with said tab projections, and an insert disc positioned within the body portion holding the body portion expanded outwardly to maintain the body and closure portions locked together in fixed set up assembly. I

9. A container of the character described comprising a tubular body portion, an end closure portion telescoped within said body portion, said end closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side walls, wedge shaped tab projections fixed to certain of said side walls, tongues projecting from said body portion adapted to interlock with said tabs, and means limiting the telescoped movement of said end closure portion with respect to said body portion.

10. A container of the character described comprising a tubular body portion, an end closure portion telescoped within said body portion, said end closure portion including an end wall and surrounding side walls, wedge shaped tab projections provided on said side walls, tongues projecting from said body portion adapted to interlock with said tabs, and means within the body portionoperative to limit the telescoping movement of said end closure portion with respeot to said body portion.

' I CHARLB P. WlilLIMAN. 

